ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft successfully passed through Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts, completing a significant achievement in its mission to explore Jupiter. The mission, led by ESA, tested the RADiation-hard Electron Monitor (RADEM), designed to measure high-energy particles in severe settings.
- RADEM recorded radiation levels of protons and electrons during this flyby, validating its performance.
- Juice was launched on April 14, 2023, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Its performance in this test prepares it for the more intense radiation environment expected around Jupiter, which is scheduled to arrive in July 2031.
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has passed a critical test through Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts in its recent flyby of Earth. This is an essential milestone for Juice and its mission crew, which includes scientists and engineers. This test relied heavily on the ESA-developed RADiation-hard Electron Monitor (RADEM), a machine designed specially by ESA to measure high radiation levels and assess its functionality in extreme environments.
The flyby occurred through Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts, which surround the Earth and pose substantial problems because of their high radiation. These Belts are regions of high-energy particles encircling Earth with energetic protons in the inner belt and energetic electrons in the outer belt. The radiation intensity here is comparatively lesser than that of Jupiter, where highly energetic electrons can penetrate even the thickest shielding and potentially damage the spacecraft’s scientific instruments over time.
RADEM, a key component of Juice’s scientific payload, is designed to monitor and measure radiation in these harsh environments. It includes several critical elements: the Directional Detector Head (DDH), the Electron Detector Head (EDH), and the Proton and Heavy Ion Detector Head (P&HIDH).
During the flyby, RADEM successfully measured these electron and proton radiation intensities. Data visualizations indicated intensity peaks as Juice passed through the densest parts of the belts, validating its performance in harsh conditions.
This event occurred in early September 2024 as part of Juice’s voyage. The spacecraft was launched on April 14, 2023, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana and will make a series of flybys before reaching Jupiter in July 2031.
The data acquired through this flyby will help to prepare RADEM for the harsher radiation environment expected around Jupiter, allowing the spacecraft’s scientific equipment to function correctly. This test proved RADEM’s functioning and enabled cross-calibration with other spacecraft, ensuring its preparedness for future missions in Jupiter’s radiation environment.
References:
¹ Juice’s flight through Earth’s radiation belts – Marco Pinto – ESA – September 3, 2024
² Jupiter Icy Moons Mission (JUICE) – ESA – Accessed September 4, 2024
³ Juice’s RADiation-hard Electron Monitor (RADEM) – ESA – Accessed September 4, 2024
Featured image credit: Marco Pinto/ESA